Snow Day!

It's been cold lately and last night we got 4 or 5 inches is snow with a 1/2" of crusty ice on top! It made for fun sledding down the front yard! 

These Virginians don't own a sled or snow shovel so we made a garden shovel and bubble wrap (seriously). Lincoln wasn't a huge fan of sledding but walking around in the snow seemed to be a hit. Sliding down the hill on his belly was a hit, too. I'm sad that Daddy missed the fun (and yummy brunch with friends!).

He's stuck on the carrier since the Hawkeyes are covered in ice and the base/runways (and everything else) in Norfolk is closed. 

We're going to attempt snow ice cream after dinner and hope we can get out of the house tomorrow!

Also, these cheeks!

Richmond Half Marathon

The Smith household has been on a running kick! Right before I quit my job, I signed up for the Richmond half marathon to keep me motivated and working out. Then a month later, we found out we were having another baby! Training got more difficult since Glenn and I had to take turns, but we made it and we both met our time goals!

I just just barely squeaked in under 2 hours, but I did it!

My friend Trish and I even spotted John from Young House Love!

And took an awkward selfie! 

It was only 28 deg at the start but warmed up to about 40 deg. I don't think my body warmed up til mile 4 but luckily I only spent 20 minutes before the start. Glenn spent 4 hrs waiting to start the NYC marathon!

Happy to take a little break from training but I think I'll do another in the spring or summer!

Spring Time!

This week is going to be in the mid-70s! Lincoln and I went to the botanical gardens yesterday with some friends and enjoyed the sunshine. Next year, I think we will have to get an annual pass, it is great for young kiddos!

On Sunday, I got my plants in the ground. This year, I went with cilantro, basil, jalapeños and Roma tomatoes. The mint and Dr. Rupple clematis came back from last year. I also planted some geraniums and rosemary in pots. I can't wait for everything to start growing! I love this time of year in VA (except for my allergies, they are the worst!).

Snowshoe Mountain

Since Glenn had a 4-day weekend for MLK (he did work most of the weekend before though), he and a friend decided to go skiing. They both left their pregnant wives at home. I had to work on Friday anyway. I'm hoping we can go as a family next winter though!

People thought I was crazy telling my husband to go skiing a week before my due date, but here we are at my due date and still no baby. I'm glad he got at least one day of skiing in. It's been a few years. Makes me miss Japan!

He's not the best with pictures but I at least got two! Thanks love!

I could go for some sushi go round...

During my last few days in Japan, Glenn and I went to one of my favorite sushi-go-round restaurants. I miss that yummy fresh sushi at my fingertips!

We haven't ventured to any Japanese restaurants since we've been back. I'm sure we will find something that compares, but it will never quite be the same.

Clearly, our stack of plates shows how much we loved it.

I

I miss you Japan!

Old Friends

I love that in the Navy you can be gone for 3 years, call up a friend and ask her to dinner and email another and ask her if you can crash at her place!  I arrived in Norfolk a few nights before my parents and we met up with Christene for dinner on Saturday night.

It was wonderful to see them both and catch up about what has been happening over the last few years. We met a new friend as well. :)

Ok, maybe we met several new friends. :)

Thanks for a wonderful time, ladies!

I'm looking forward to seeing you again, Virginia Beach!

Orders! For real!

After getting our departure delayed for several reasons, I wasn't expecting orders til the new fiscal year in October. Once I had wrapped my head around that concept and developed a new time line for several upcoming events/moving/painting/packing/etc, what does the Navy do? Gives us orders today!

Exciting of course, but now all those lists and plans I had made must change and then be implemented. What a crazy life this is? I stress, I bitch, I complain, but it's pretty exciting. We're moving to America! Sometimes I worry though. Am I going to be bored? Will I be able to find a job? (This article, btdub, didn't help in that regard).

We are officially headed to Norfolk so you may begin planning your 2012 visit! All of you who said that Japan was too expensive, but you would visit us in the states? Well, here's your chance. You can fly in to Norfolk or Newport News, VA. Please notify us of your travel plans. We expect visitors. I'm done taking 12 hour flights for awhile. My next several months might include up to 5 of those. FIVE. One. Two. Three. Four. FIVE.

Like I mentioned before, we are delayed a few months longer than we were expecting. Glenn will check out of VAW-115 in November and will report to VAW-120 NTL December 1. Not ideal, but it will work out nicely with Blair's wedding and nothing is ever perfect I suppose. Something I struggle to grasp at, but as Glenn's email to me tonight said, "sometimes we don't get everything we want...". I try hard to make everything work, but then I get sick and my dog forgets who I am. How did he get so practical?

The list making, planning, cleaning, painting, scheduling and packing commences now!

Orders!

The Smiths are on the move again! These smithereens are headed back to Norfolk, Virginia! Glenn and I are very excited about returning to the city where we were before Japan. We only got to spend about 11 months there before and are exciting about settling there for awhile and possibly buying our first home.

Of course, in true Navy fashion, none of the details are worked out or planned or scheduled or even written down on paper enough that I can schedule a move. So now I just wait and look at houses online in hopes that my favorites will still be for sale when we eventually make it there.

I'll be back in the States before Glenn so that I can be home for Emily's wedding. Glenn will be there...later.

We are both very excited about being only a 2-3 hour plane ride or a shorter drive to see our families! It's going to be nice to be back in the good ol' U.S.A!